You’ll notice new car prices creeping up over the coming months as car companies come to terms with the new emissions rating system.

The effect on new car prices will be significant as the Irish vehicle registration tax (VRT) system as well as the annual road tax system, is based on the emissions rating of each car. You will hear the term WLTP (which stands for world harmonised light duty vehicle testing protocol) mentioned in dealerships across the country as car sales people will try to explain why new car prices show such significant increases.

WLTP came into effect last month and replaces the old New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) test. The official NEDC figures are shown in coloured bands on the windows of cars in dealerships to show how much fuel the car uses its CO2 emissions rating and this relates to the annual car tax cost.

The WLTP is more stringent and it provides fuel economy figures that seem closer to the reality of everyday driving compared to the old NEDC figures. Fuel economy data is closely linked to CO2 ratings, so CO2 figures for cars under the new WLTP test, will increase.

The WLTP test could increase official CO2 emissions by more than 20%. That would result in significant price and tax increases, if the current tax system is retained, as cars move up into the next higher VRT and road tax bands. Larger SUVs are likely to increase the most in price.

New Kia Sportage is here

The new Kia Sportage is now available with a new 1.6-litre turbo-diesel engine and entry prices starting from €29,495.

The new upgraded Kia Sportage comes with updates both inside and out along with new safety and infotainment technologies. For 2019, the Sportage look has been modernised with a redesigned front bumper with new fog lamp housings, and new chrome inserts leading from the fog lamps into the lower air intake.

Entry prices start at €29,495, a €3,000 increase from the previous model.

The new Sportage is available with a new 1.6-litre diesel engine, which Kia claims is its cleanest diesel ever. This engine is rated at either 116bhp or 136bhp and the more powerful version is available in 4WD format.